Airmen support historic change of command in Afghanistan

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Julie Weckerlein
  • U.S. Central Command Air Forces Public Affairs
KANDAHAR AIR FIELD, Afghanistan (AFPN) --  Airmen provided support for a historic change-of-command ceremony that brought the International Security and Assistance Force's largest operating base here under NATO control July 31.

The U.S. Central Command Air Forces expeditionary band performed a series of military marches and hymns during the ceremony as Royal Air Force Air Commodore Ashley Stevenson assumed command of Kandahar Air Field from Army Col. Richard Stevens.

"It was an honor and a privilege to come here and perform for this important and historic event," said Maj. Chad Steffey, CENTAF band commander. "I'm proud of my Airmen. It was challenging with the schedules and transportation to get here, but we pulled it off and everyone performed very well."

Colonel Steven's personal security detachment, which is made up of Air Force security forces Airmen, also served as the flag detail for the event.

"I couldn't be more proud of them," said Colonel Stevens of the Airmen. "They were selected [as the PSD] for their training and capabilities, which is really service independent. They are talented, well-trained and they do good work." 

Kandahar AF is headed by four lead stakeholder nations:  the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and the Royal Netherlands. The nations primarily share responsibility for providing life support and maintenance of facilities and structures on the installation. Up until now, the U.S. military has run the base.

The ceremony marked the first time NATO has taken full control of a large airfield and operational staging base in an active operational theater using a multi-national team.

Air Commodore Stevensen said he also looks forward to working with the Airmen deployed to Kandahar AF, most in Army positions, as well as the 10,000 other joint and coalition servicemembers and civilians here.

"I've always had a close relationship with the U.S. Air Force," said Air Commodore Stevenson. "Ever since I first attended pilot training at Sheppard [Air Force Base, Texas] 25 years ago, I've had some contact one way or another with Airmen."

He said that partnership between the Air Force and all the servicemembers at Kandahar will benefit the mission.

"The use of the airfield is not going to be so different," he said. "My intent is to have a seamless transition, a continuity and unity of effort here as we work to our goal of handing over Kandahar Air Field to Afghanistan for both civilian and military operations." 

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